Countdowny bits
A selection of tools and toys related to the TV game show Countdown.
Co-event helpers
Tools useful for people organising FOCAL Countdown events.
- Atropine - The browser-based tool used by most FOCAL Countdown events to generate fixtures and record results. It is also available on GitHub.
- Conundrum Printing Thing - Lay out conundrum scrambles in a printable form, for a Lincoln-style co-event.
- Scoresheet printer - Like the Conundrum Printing Thing, but for co-event scoresheets.
Co-event helpers written by other people
Other people also develop and maintain useful Countdown-related tools. Here are some of them:
- Co-event hosting tool by Tom Chafer-Cook. Designed to be run in a phone browser by game hosts at three-to-a-table Lincoln-style events.
- Mobile Conundrum Buzzer by Fiona T.
- FOCAL word checker and Conundrum validity checker by Fiona T.
- Lexplorer by Charlie Reams. Apterous's word lookup and anagram solving tool. Subscription required.
You can also find these tools linked from the FOCAL Co-Event Tools page.
Numbers solver
The Countdown numbers game solver Quantum Tombola, and its two interfaces.
- Mobile numbers solver - Countdown numbers game solver, written in JavaScript and designed for use on mobile devices.
- Quantum Tombola - same numbers solver, different interface. It has more features and is designed for devices with larger screens and an actual keyboard.
Simulation and display
These were mainly useful during the pandemic for running online games. They get little use now, but they're still here.
- WebRack - co-ordinates a game between two players over the web, with a third person hosting by picking letters and entering the score. This is the system ZoomDown used from series 4 to run games over Zoom and to show overlay graphics.
- RackONine - standalone letters and numbers picker that some have found useful in online events.
Old tools, no longer maintained
These were created long ago, often as temporary throwaway practice tools. They are no longer maintained, but are kept here for as long as they don't get in the way.
- H2H-o-matic - a historical database of statistics about past co-events up to 2020. Not updated any more.
- The nets - Numbers game trainer.
- Productio ad absurdum - Trainer for some useful times tables.
- Drumcundry - A thing I barely remember making in 2016, with which you can practice against real conundrums that have been used on Countdown.